Words of Wisdom and Hope

Back in 2002 Teenage Fanclub & Jad Fair released the Words of Wisdom and Hope album on Stephen Pastel's Geographic label. 

In a classic Fanclub tale, Fair stayed with Norman and his family in Glasgow and it was over a game of scrabble and a glass of wine that they got talking about making an album together. 

Within days, a studio in France had been rented and once they got over, Jad and the Fanclub recorded 16-songs together in just 2-days, all improvised, often with the band switching instruments and with Fair recording all his lyrics in one take.

"We recorded about 16 tracks over two days and had the album. Everything was completely improvised. It was very liberating to do something so quickly." Norman Blake

As a result, there is a raw charm across the 12-songs, with plenty of moments that are almost guaranteed to warm your heart and make you smile. If not, you might want to visit your doctor.

Fair improvises over Teenage Fanclub instrumentals that range from fuzzy and scuzzy garage guitar pop, to gentler and tender moments that follow on from the Howdy! album in 2000.

Norman went on to record with Jad a couple of times; releasing the Yes album in 2015 (check the gorgeous Add Your Name) and Raindrops with Jad and Tenniscoats in 2017. I also have a Japanese import called How Many Glasgow that I got in 2015. You can read an old blog on that album HERE

But back to Words of Wisdom and Hope.

Jad Fair oozes love, hope and positivity in his lyrics, while his voice is all warm and gooey in just the right way. Like a marshmallow toasted on a campfire. He brings out a side of the Fanclub that I'd love to hear more of, particularly with Euros now being on board. Euros strikes me as a musician who can create something from thin air. Could Norman invite Jad back over for another game of scrabble and book a few days in a wee studio like La Chunky or Green Door and knock something out?

Fair is a romantic and soul and that comes out in every single song. Given the spontaneous nature of the album, some are stronger than others. My favourites include;

Behold The Miracle which opens the album, the Fanclub work up a cool garage groove on top of a 3 note keyboard riff, that allows Jad to wax lyrically over the top.

The wondrous wonder of your smile

There is wonder in your eyes

Behold the miracle

Near To You rides in on a riff that sounds very Gerry Love, chiming melodic rushes that create beautiful urgency.

Jad keeps coming back to the song title on Crush On You and after every time he says it he goes on to clarify exactly why and what that feels like. The Fanclub rock out at times, the guitar is gorgeously fuzzy and the band sound loose but also locked in the groove. 

I am certain of our fate

I am certain of our future

Sunshine knocking at our front door

You Rock is slow, dreamy and beautiful;

Love's taken over, taken over my life

And I'm glad

The Good Thing is a tender acoustic album closer with Katrina Mitchell from The Pastels on backing vocals, while Jad sings about not giving up.

Those that dig deep into the Teenage Fanclub discography, beyond the albums and the singles off them, are richly rewarded. Here are a few other releases to check out;

• Ballad of John & Yoko - 7-inch only, released in October 1990 on Paperhouse Records. Limited to 5,000 copies, b-side features etchings of the bands signatures. Recorded in Fun City Studio NYC and released on John's birthday.
• The Peel Sessions EP - released in 1992 on Strange Fruit, a record label run with love from someone's shed. Includes a glorious live version of Alcoholiday.
• Free Again - 7-inch only, released in May 1992. I remember stumbling across this in the old Virgin Records on Argyle Street. A rip roaring cover of the Alex Chilton song. A real favourite of mine.
• Mine Exclusively / Patti Girl - Ltd 7-inch released with NME. This is Teenage Fanclub playing and recording with Alex Chilton. I recently picked up this gem from eBay.  Check them playing together on this Scottish Tee Vee footage. There is also a bootleg of their show at 13th Note HERE.
• Teenage Fanclub Have Lost It - EP released at the end of 1995 (peak Britpop). See my feature length blog HERE.
• Association - Teenage Fanclub covered their friends International Airport (led by Tom Crossley of The Pastels/Lightships) for the b-side of their gorgeous song Association. Look out for a blog on this in the near future.

The legendary Jad Fair

How Many Glasgow

Yesterday I bought the album How Many Glasgow by Jad Fair, Tenniscoats and Norman Blake on Japanese import and I have been enjoying a lovely Sunday evening lying in bed listening to it with headphones on, watching the sun go down on a lovely sunny April weekend in Glasgow.

So how did the album come about?

In 2012 Jad and Norman were invited by Daniel Johnston to play at one of his exhibitions in Madrid. The duo subsequently went to Japan to tour with Tenniscoats (Saya and Ueno Takashi) and after two shows in Tokyo they booked a recording session; How Many Glasgow is the result of that session with most of the tracks recorded in 2 or 3 takes over the course of 2-days.

I'm real pleased with how it came out. It has a friendly and natural feel to it - Jad Fair

Mostly improvised, you hear the songs in the order they were recorded. Jad is an inspiration and a huge talent....Tenniscoats are one of my favourite groups. They are original and fearless and it was a privilege to work with them - Norman Blake

Jad's description is spot on. The album has a very warm feeling to it - 4 friends coming together to create and record an album virtually on the spot.

The artists combine well - the music is relatively simple; largely finger picked guitar with some keyboards, organ and a little percussion. Jad's contribution is improvised spoken word with Tenniscoats making up backing vocal melodies on the spot.

Jad's lyrics are all about love and hope, his voice is very easy and at times very soothing to listen to. Tenniscoats sound utterly gorgeous.

There are some sublime moments; Yes, We Can is an early highlight while Reading Bubbles with the Japanese vocals and melody is absolutely stunning. Jad's mellow and calm spoken word section combines beautifully with those of Tenniscoats. Then it is the turn of Norman to sing with Tenniscoats on the beautiful Raindrops (track 4).

This Is A Time is probably my favourite song on the album; it has a lovely feel to it and all 3 artists are at their best - Norman playing some mellow guitar, Tenniscoats  playing some subtle keyboards and singing backing vocals while Jad is at his romantic best.

A brand new day has begun

A brand new spring has now been sprung

And into this life we have been flung

Let's make the most of it

Horray for us

Doowee Do (track 11) has Norman singing in Japanese and harmonising with Tenniscoats and The Door Will Open is a fragile beauty.

The way the album was recorded is captured beautifully at the start of I Have A Plan with Jad and Tenniscoats laughing as they begin - the song is another highlight.

The closing Yo Yo Yo! is clear evidence that this is an improvised album, this is just a fun jam, sounding like it was recorded in one take - but who cares when you have songs like those mentioned above.

Norman and Jad play Mono in Glasgow on Monday 18th May. Tickets HERE

2014 review by Duglas T Stewart

Duglas T Stewart has been writing, singing, recording and releasing music with the BMX Bandits since 1986. Duglas' musical taste and knowledge is absolutely incredible and he has turned me on to many fantastic songs and artists via Facebook and Twitter - not only from older artists but also new and emerging artists whom he supports wholeheartedly - Randolph's Leap and TeenCanteen are just a couple of examples of young Scottish bands that Duglas has helped and supported.

On a personal level, I have been enjoying Duglas' music since I was in my mid-teens and it has been tremendous to watch him develop as a writer and artist. The last three BMX Bandits have been exceptional and deserve a wider audience. This years single My Girl Midge is heartbreakingly beautiful.

I caught up Duglas for his review of 2014.

1. Album of 2014

How Many Glasgow by Tenniscoats, Jad Fair and Norman Blake

The group I have listened to most this year are Tenniscoats.

2. Track of 2014

Love Thy Will Be Done by The Icypoles

It's actually a cover version but it's a great song and I think this is the best version. Their album is beautiful.

3. Man of 2014

Stuart Kidd - Stuart was a BMX Bandit for a number of years. He joined us when he was still just a kid and I have felt a sense of pride watching him grow as a musician and an artist. He has been so prolific; contributing (sometimes as a writer, singer, sometimes a musician and a player, or all at the same time) to many great records over the last few years by acts including Dr Cosmos Tape Lab, Poundstore Riot, The Pearlfishers, Jad Fair, Norman Blake, The Wellgreen, Euros Childs and others.

Stuart has also played a couple of shows with me and we've worked on some recordings together. He's a great and prolific talent. He does everything with a sense of joy and positivity and with great taste and instincts.

Stuart on the left - his album with Dr Cosmos Tape Lab was a personal fave of mine in 2014

4. Looking to 2015

2014 has been the hardest year of my life and I approach 2015 with fear but still praying for a miracle.

There are things I look forward to; the debut album by TeenCanteen, new albums by Teenage Fanclub, Tenniscoats have made an album of Bill Wells cover versions that I'd love to hear. I think Euros Childs is sure to make a new album. I had hoped to make a new album with Chloe but don't know if we will but it's still a dream.

I'm also looking forward to the debut album by Glasgow duo Elara Caluna and a Joe Meek tribute album by JONNY (Norman Blake and Euros Childs) called Jonny Remembers Him.

Euros and Norman - JONNY

5. Favourite live shows of 2014

TeenCanteen at Broadcast, Burt Bacharach in Edinburgh, The Rutles at King Tuts, No More Tiger at Broadcast, The Pearlfishers at the Tolbooth in Stirling and Tennis at Broadcast.

TeenCanteen at Broadcast